No, I Want the Microphone! Sikh Sword Fight Breaks Out at Indian Memorial Service

[Editor’s Note: Members of Sikh groups had gathered to memorialize a great tragedy. Many Sikh members were killed in 1984 in a raid to flush out separatists. However, instead of coming together as a community, these members chose to draw swords and fight each other.]

Fights broke out over who would make the first speech, as Zubair Ahmed reports

Several people have been injured after Sikh groups brandishing swords clashed at India’s Golden Temple as special prayers were held to mark the deadly military offensive there in 1984.

Reports said the fight at Sikhism’s holiest shrine was over who would speak first at the ceremony and that a scuffle broke out over a microphone.

Footage showed men running down temple steps lashing out with their swords.

Reports said at least three people had been taken to hospital with injuries.

The Indian government says 400 people and 87 soldiers were killed during the 1984 military raid to flush out Sikh separatists from the Golden Temple at Amritsar, codenamed Operation Blue Star.

But Sikh groups say the number of casualties was much higher and estimate it closer to 1,000.

On Friday, hundreds of Sikhs had gathered at the shrine to remember those killed in the June 6 raid 30 years ago, but the ceremony soon erupted into chaos.